Toy vehicle



F. VAN VALKENBURG TOY VEHICLE Feb. 9 1926. y 1,572,335

Filed Feb 5, 1925 I@ @WM Patented Feb. 9, 1926.

unirsi) FREEMAN VAN VALKENBURG, F KINGSTON, NEW YORK.

TOY VEHICLE.

Application filed February 5, 1925. Serial No. 7,063.

To @ZZ tt/tom t may) concern.'

lBe it. known that l, FREEMAN VAN VAL- at'ziyirnu, a citizen of theUnited States, residink at Kingston, in the county of Ulster and tit-ateof New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ToyVehicles, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to an improved toy vehicle, and it has moreparticular reference to the type of vehicle including a wheel supportedbase, which is quite close to the ground, and is adapted to permit theoperator to ride thereon in a standing jesition.

The principal feature of the invention is to provide a verticallyreciprocable steering rod, which has the double function of guiding anddriving the vehicle, there being a novel driving connection between thelower end of the rod and the axle of the front wheel, whereby the frontwheel may be rotated at a comparatively rapid speed, under the verticalreciprocation of the steering rod.

The invention embodies other structural details which are productive ofimportant fea-tures and advantages, and these will become apparent fromthe following description' and drawing".

l'n the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame: l

lfligurc 1 is a side elevation, partly in sec' 4tien of a vehicleconstructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a. top plan view thereof, with the hand wheel shown indotted lines, and the reciprocatory steering shaft in section.

Referring to the drawing in detail, it will he seen that the devicecomprises al horizonl tally disposed supporting frame, eml'iodyingspacedside bars 1, provided at their rear ends with bearings in whichl a shaft2 journaled for rotation, there being wheels 3 lixedly mounted upon theouter ends of the shaft 2. At their forward ends, the members 1 convergeand are connected together, there being :an upwardly curved portion flat their pointof connection. At the upper end of the part 4 is aforwardly and downwardly inclined tube 5. A bushing 9 is rotatable inthe tube 5. A fork depends from the lower eind of the bushing,

the arms G of which straddle the front driving wheel 7, carrying thedriven axle 8, rotatably mounted in bearings at the lower ends of thearms.

As before stated, the novelty of the invenA tion resides moreparticularly in the driving correction or means for turning the frontdrive wheel 7. The bushing 9 is provided with a bore, which is polygonalin cross section. 1Vertically slidable through this bore is acorrespondingly shaped steering rod 10, at the upper end of which is anend wheel 1l, The lower end of the rod is fash-y ioned to provide racl;teeth 12 on one side, these beingl adapted to mesh with the teeth ot agear 13 rotatably mounted on a journal stud carried by one of the armsof the aforesaid fork. A pinion 14 is iixedlyniounted on the drive shaft8, and an idler gear 15 is interposed Vbetween the gear 13 and pinion,serving to impart forward movement of the vehicle, when the steering rod10 is reciprocated, to impart rotation to the gear 13.

In practice, theoperator stands upon the foot V.board 16 carried by thesupporting frame, and grasps the hand wheel 11, reciprocating therodfl() vertically through the bushing 9 and causing the rack teeth 12to a'ct on the gear 13, to impart rotation to the pinion 14 through themedium of tne idlers 15. Obviously, the front wheel will thus be driven,and the vehicle will be earL ried along at a coii'iparatively fast rateof speed.

I would direct attention to the fact that that portion of the bar 10adjoining the toothed part 12 with the body portion is comparativelythin, so as to render it sul-liciently flexible, so that on theupstrolze of the rod, the rack teeth will properly ratchet over theteeth of the gear 13.

It thouglnI that the foregoing descrip tion, taken in connection withthe accompanying drawing, will enable persons skilled in the art towhich the invention relates to obtain a. clear understanding. For thisreason, a more lengthy description is thought unnecessary. i

Although the preferred embodiment or the invention has been shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that minor changes coming within thefield of the invention may be resorted to, if desired. For instance, instead of providing a hand wheel at the top of the steering rod, a crosslmr or other suitable form of handle may be provided.

l claim: l

A toy vehicle of the class described Voomprsng a base upon whichtheoperator is adapted to be Supported., a 'frame upon which said baseis mounted, a. plurality of Wheels for supporting said frame, one otSaid Wheels being` located at the forward end of the frame, andfunctioning as a comlned drive and steering Wheel, a' fork, the arms ofwhich straddle said combined drive and steerng wheel, n tube on theforward end of the tranne, u bushing rotuubly mounted in the tube andConnected with the forli, Suid bushing having a polygonal bore, areciprocable rod of polygonal cross section slidable through thebushing7 a Wheel at one end of the rod, the other end ot the rod beingresilient and having ratchet teeth, geen lng engageable by Seid ratchetteeth and operatively associated With tlre combined drive and steeringWheels.

In testimony whereof I afx my signature.

'Hannut/uvy VAN VALKENBURG.

